was not aware that I was obliged to talk to any one unless I felt like
it. I am not in the mood to-day, and I will not be forced. You have no
right to call me cross, and when I am in the humor to talk with you
again I will let you know!"

"Very well!" "C" replied promptly, undoubtedly angry himself now; "I
will wait your pleasure!" and then was mute.

"It has not been quite so gradual as I intended, but I think I have
effectually settled the matter, and my mind is relieved," thought
Nattie; yet she sighed, and her satisfaction was followed by depression,
for with "C" departed the pleasantest part of her office life, a fact
she could not disguise. In the week that followed, when "C," true to his
word, waited, saying nothing, she missed continually the sympathy, the gay
talk, the companionship that had made the constantly-occurring
annoyances endurable, and the days that dragged so now seem short. The
office business did not fill half her time, and the constant confinement
began to be irksome to her, whose nature demanded activity; in
consequence, she often grew impatient and answered unnecessary questions
of customers with a shortness that gave considerable offence; and had it
not been for Cyn, who brought her sunny presence quite often into the
office, heedless of the "no admittance" on the door, the monotony that
had now displaced the romantic side of telegraphy would have plunged
Nattie among the shadows almost constantly.

Of course the sudden cessation of the intimacy between "C" and "N" was a
theme of much surprise and bantering comments along the line, especially
from "Em." But these facetious remarks gradually became fewer as the
wonder subsided. One day, nearly two weeks after the "collapse," Nattie
was surprised to hear the old familiar "B m--B m--B m--X n." Wondering if
he had grown tired of waiting and was about to attempt a renewal of
their former friendship, Nattie rather impatiently answered. But it
proved he had a message, an occurrence quite infrequent with him. This
he sent without unnecessary words. But after she had given "O. K." and
closed her key, he opened his to say,

"Please, don't you want to make up, N?"

"I have nothing to make up!" Nattie replied.

"O. K." was "C's" response as he again subsided.

"He snubs easily!" thought Nattie, much relieved.

The following Saturday night, however, as she was taking in from the
shelf outside the blanks, ink, and bad pens that excited the ire of